Concealed pop-up waste valve



J I i- A N 1, KW A. MINELLA 3,314,033

CONCEALED POP-UP WASTE VALVE Filed May 25, 1964 M Mu? e #0 I NVEN TOR.

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ATTORNEYJ United States Patent 3,314,083 CQNCEALED POP-UP WASTE VALVE Angelo Minella, Houston, Tern, assignor to A. Minella Plumbing Supplies, Inc., a corporation of Texas Filed May 25, 1964, Ser. No. 369,974 3 Claims. (Cl. 4-203) The present invention relates to a concealed pop-up waste valve for receptacles, such as lavatories and the like designed to prevent unwarranted access to and removal of the valve mechanism through the waste drain in the receptacle and to prevent loss of valuables down the drain.

Pop-up valve mechanisms are commonly employed in receptacles such as lavatories and the like for controlling the discharge of water from the receptacle to the waste drain. All of such pop-up valve constructions presently in use are adapted to seat in the bottom of the receptacle and move therefrom up into the receptacle to enable discharge of liquid from the receptacle through the valve and into the Waste drain. Pop-up valve mechanisms of this type can generally be removed from the receptacle since the valve itself can be engaged and moved so as to disconnect it from the operating mechanism.

Such arrangement is extremely undesirable in that the devices can be easily removed either during construction of the building or structure in which the receptacle is to be mounted or it can be removed even after construction has been completed and the building open to the public.

Also, pop-up valve mechanisms generally in use in lava tories and sinks at the present time expose the drain pipe so that valuables and trash may flow thereinto.

The present invention provides a pop-up valveconstruction which eliminates the above problems in that it conceals the valve and prevents access thereto and to the open drain by the user of the receptacle; Also, the presentinvention accomplishes its desired function without interfering with the normal use of the valve or without interfering with the normal use of the receptacle.

An object of the present invention is to provide a concealed pop-up waste valve for a receptacle which may be actuated to close the waste drain of the receptacle and which may be actuated to open the waste drain of the receptacle and which valve does not interfere with the overflow drain construct-ion ofthe normal receptacle.

Another object is to provide a valve for lavatories and the like which prevents loss of valuables and collection of trash therein.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from. aconsideration of the following description and drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a receptacle such as a lavatory in which the pop-up valve of the present construction may be employed;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of FIG; 1 and is an enlarged detailed View of the valve mechanism of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of FIG. 2 and illustrates the arrangement of the side opening means in the body of the valve for communication with the overflow drain of the receptacle and the relationship of a guide mechanism for the valve.

In FIG. 1, a receptacle is illustrated generally by the numeral 5, such receptacle being illustrated as a lavatory to which is connected a source of hot and cold water 7 and 8. A waste drain connection is shown at 9 as being connected into the bottom of receptacle 5, and an enlargement is normally provided on the receptacle such as illustrated at 10 for communicating liquid from the overflow opening shown in dotted line at 11 to the waste drain 9 for preevnting overflow of the receptacle.

'In FIG. 2, the receptacle is again referred to by the numeral 5, and in the bottom of the receptacle there is an opening formed as shown at 13. The opening 13 communicates with the chamber 29 formedin the enlargement 10 on the nether side or surface of the receptacle. An opening 10a is provided in the bottom of the enlargementlfl that is aligned with the opening 13 and provides a means for receiving the valve mechanism of the present invent-ion referred to generally by the numeral 20 in FIG. 2. The valve mechanism includes a tubular or hollow cylindrical body 21 which may be provided with a flaring outwardly projecting annular flange 22 adjacent one end thereof for seating on a. conformed surface 23 of the opening 13 in the bottom of the receptacle 5 as shown in FIG. 2. The body 21 has an opening 21a at one end in which is received the foraminated cover or closure 24 to provide a means of egress for liquid from the receptacle '5 when the valve is in the open position as illustrated in dotted line in FIG. 2 and as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. The closure shown is a wellknown form and further description is believed unnecessary.

An adapter 21b surrounds the lower end of body 21 as shown in FIG. 2 and abuts the bottom of enlargement 10 below chamber 29. A seal ring 21c between adapter 21b and enlargement 10 inhibits leakage therebetween and is seated in groove 21d on the upper edge of the adapter 2111 as shown in FIG. 2.

The body 21 extends through the opening 211: in the bottom of the adapter 21b. A rubber gasket or seal ring 21 is seated on the tapered surface of opening 21c and ring 14 therebeneath and nut 26 force the seal ring 21f into sealing engagement :between the body 21 and adapte 2112 as shown in FIG. 2.

The hollow cylindrical body 21 is provided with a suitable threaded surface 25 to enable the nut 26 to engage therewith and lock the cylindrical hollow body 21 in the receptacle 5 in the position as shown in FIG. 2. The waste drain 9 includes suitable connections as shown in FIG. 2 for threadedly connecting with the tubular body 21 to form a conduit for discharge of liquid from the receptacle to the drain.

Suitable opening means 28 are provided in the side of the body 21 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings which opening communicates with the chamber 29 formed in the enlargement 10 immediately beneath the opening '13 in the receptacle 5 as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. The tubular body 21 may be of any suitable configuration, and as shown in FIG. 2; it will be noted that the upper portion designated generally by the numeral 31 is of larger diameter than the portion referred-to generally by the numeral 33 to form at their juncture an annular valve seat 34. It will be noted thatthe annular valve seat 34 is formed in the hollow cylindrical body 21 between the opening means 28 and the foraminated closure 24 as illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings to provide a valve chamber 34:: to accommodate movement of the valve member 35 from its seat shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings to an open position shown at 50 in dotted line. A valve rod designated generally by the numeral 36 is connected to one side of the valve 35 as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, such valve rod 36 including the radially projecting portions 37 which function as guides to properly align the valve 35 as it moves or reciprocates within the tubular body 21 as will be described presently. The portion 38 of the valve rod may be integrally formed with the guides 37, and the portion 39 of the valve rod 36 between the valve 35 and guides 37 may be engaged with the valve 35 by any suitable means such as threads or the like which is not critical to the present invention.

Valve actuating means as illustrated generally by the numeral 45 are provided which are of a well-known design and include the lever 46 which extends through the lateral opening 47 formed in the connection 48 that: is threadedly connected with the tubular body 21 as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. The inner end of the lever 46 is engaged in an eye or opening 49 formed in the lower end of the valve rod 36 so that movement of the lever 46 in turn eflects movements of the valve 35 either up into the valve chamber as illustrated in dotted line at 50 for opening the valve whereby liquid may flow through the foraminated cover and through the tubular body into the drain or it may be seated on the annular seat 34 as shown in full line in FIG. 2 for closing off the bowl of the receptacle to the drain to retain liquid within the receptacle.

It will be noted that the rod 46 is pivotally connected by suitable means such as the ball and socket joint referred to generally by the numeral 52, and this in turn is retained in position by means of the cap 53 which is provided with the spring 54 internally to abut against the ball formed on the lever 46 that fits within the socket 54 formed in the member 55 that is positioned in the connection 48.

The valve chamber 34a is of suitable size so that when the valve is opened, the water may flow unrestricted from the container 5. In present lavatories, the adapter 21b may be necessary which provides unrestricted access for water from chamber 29 to overflow openings 28. In some lavatories where the chamber 29 is larger so that ample access between the openings 28 and chamber 29 is present while also providing ample space for valve chamber 34a, the adapter 21b may be eliminated, and the lock nut 26 and seal 14 around body 21 abutted against the enlargement 10.

From the foregoing description, it can be appreciated that the valve 35 is at all times concealed and that since the valve does not pop up into the receptacle, it may not be readily disconnected from the lever 46 and removed from the receptacle. Further attention is drawn to the fact that the spacing of the valve set relative to the opening means 28 is such that the valve may function to open and close the receptacle to the drain without interfering with the normal overflow drain of the receptacle.

Broadly, the present invention relates to a concealed pop-up waste valve for a receptacle, and more particularly to a valve which is concealed to inhibit improper removal and to prevent loss of valuables, yet which functions without interfering with any other components of the receptacle.

What is claimed is:

-1. A concealed pop-up waste valve for receptacles comprising:

(a) a hollow cylindrical body;

(b) an annular flange adjacent one end of said body for seating said cylindrical body in a receptacle waste opening;

() a foraminated cover extending across one end of said cylindrical body;

(d) said cylindrical body including two cylindrical portions;

(e) the first of said cylindrical portions being disposed adjacent and extending downwardly from the opening in the waste receptacle and being cylindrical substantially throughout its extent;

(f) the second of said cylindrical portions extending downwardly from the first and being smaller in diameter than said first portion;

(g) the juncture of said .first and second portions defining an annular radially inwardly extending shoulder in said cylindrical body;

(h) an annular upwardly facing valve seat formed on the upper edge of said radially inwardly extending annular shoulder;

(i) said first cylindrical portion providing an unobstructed valve chamber from the foraminated cover to said valve seat;

(j) a valve member having a solid upper surface and an annular edge for seating on said annular valve seat;

(k) a valve rod depending from said valve member and extending into said second portion of said cylindrical body;

(1) said valve rod having integrally formed thereon guides for contacting said second portion of said cylindrical body at circumferentially spaced points thereon to center said valve member during opening and closing thereof;

(-m) means abut-ting said valve rod at substantially the center of said cylindrical body and projecting laterally relative to said body whereby said rod may be moved longitudinally relative to said body to raise said valve member into said unobstructed valve chamber and open the receptacle to drainage and;

(11) said cylindrical body having openings therein beneath said valve seat for communicating the overflow drain of said receptacle with said second portion of said cylindrical body.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said second portion of said cylindrical body includes threads on the external surface thereof, seal means for abutting the nether side of the receptacle, and threaded means for forcing said seal means into sealing engagement with said receptacle. I

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said threaded means abuts an adapter that'is larger in diameter than said second portion of said cylindrical body with the seal means that abuts the receptacle being carried on one end thereof and said threaded means including additional seal means for closing off the annular space at the bottom of said adapter where it surrounds said second portion of said cylindrical body so that said threaded means jams said additional seal means against the adapter and said seal means against the nether side of the receptacle.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,287,247 12/1918 Cross 4-203 1,783,460 12/1930 Brotz 4203 2,697,840 12/1954 Steele 4-203 2,827,639 3/1958 Schmidt 4-203 2,989,758 6/1961 Turek et al 4203 3,010,118 11/1961 Isherwood 4--203 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner. SAMUEL ROTHBERG, H. ARTIS, Assistant Examiners. 

1. A CONCEALED POP-UP WASTE VALVE FOR RECEPTACLES COMPRISING: (A) A HOLLOW CYLINDRICAL BODY; (B) AN ANNULAR FLANGE ADJACENT ONE END OF SAID BODY FOR SEATING SAID CYLINDRICAL BODY IN A RECEPTACLE WASTE OPENING; (C) A FORAMINATED COVER EXTENDING ACROSS ONE END OF SAID CYLINDRICAL BODY; (D) SAID CYLINDRICAL BODY INCLUDING TWO CYLINDRICAL PORTIONS; (E) THE FIRST OF SAID CYLIDRICAL PORTIONS BEING DISPOSED ADJACENT AND EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM THE OPENING IN THE WASTE RECEPTACLE AND BEING CYLINDRICAL SUBSTANTIALLY THROUGHOUT ITS EXTENT; (F) THE SECOND OF SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTIONS EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM THE FIRST AND BEING SMALLER IN DIAMETER THAN SAID FIRST PORTION; (G) THE JUNCTURE OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND PORTIONS DEFINING AN ANNULAR RADIALLY INWARDLY EXTENDING SHOULDER IN SAID CYLINDRICAL BODY; (H) AN ANNULAR UPWARDLY FACING VALVE SEAT FORMED ON THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID RADIALLY INWARDLY EXTENDING ANNULAR SHOULDER; (I) SAID FIRST CYLINDRICAL PORTION PROVIDING AN UNOBSTRUCTED VALVE CHAMBER FROM THE FORAMINATED COVER TO SAID VALVE SEAT; (J) A VALVE MEMBER HAVING A SOLID UPPER SURFACE AND AN ANNULAR EDGE FOR SEATING ON SAID ANNULAR VALVE SEAT; (K) A VALVE ROD DEPENDING FROM SAID VALVE MEMBER AND EXTENDING INTO SAID SECOND PORTION OF SAID CYLINDRICAL BODY; 